Piedmont Electric Member and solar
Piedmont Electric Member is an electric cooperative serving about 30,640 homes in North Carolina. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 16.5¢12% above North Carolina average
- Typical bill
- $1961,189 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~21%Net billing (reduced export credit)
- Typical payback
- 12.7 yrs10.1 kW, cash
Export rules for Piedmont Electric Member customers
Net billing (reduced export credit) (North Carolina rule).
Duke Energy's new solar customers choose between the 'Bridge Rate' (retail-style net metering, open until Jan 1, 2027 or caps fill) and Residential Solar Choice, which requires a time-of-use rate and credits monthly net exports at avoided cost (~3.4-4 cents). Both include a minimum bill.
Solar for a typical Piedmont Electric Member home
| System | 10.1 kW (100% of 1,189 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $27,235 |
| First-year savings | $2,196 |
| Payback | 12.7 years |
| 25-year net | $32,744 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 511
- Share of customers
- 1.7%
- Residential solar capacity
- 4 MW
- Residential customers
- 30,640
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about Piedmont Electric Member and solar
Does Piedmont Electric Member have net metering?
Piedmont Electric Member follows North Carolina's rules: Duke Energy's new solar customers choose between the 'Bridge Rate' (retail-style net metering, open until Jan 1, 2027 or caps fill) and Residential Solar Choice, which requires a time-of-use rate and credits monthly net exports at avoided cost (~3.4-4 cents). Both include a minimum bill.
How much does electricity cost with Piedmont Electric Member?
Residential customers paid an average of 15.6¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 16.5¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,189 kWh a month, a bill of about $196.
Is solar worth it with Piedmont Electric Member?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 10.1 kW system costing about $27,235 pays back in about 12.7 years, with $32,744 net over 25 years.
How many Piedmont Electric Member customers have solar?
About 511 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 1.7% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: Piedmont Electric Member Corp (EIA ID 15023). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.